Page 67 of Queen of the Underworld

His voice was rough and raw as he growled.

“Do you want to know how jealous I would be if I saw you with another male?” He brought his head down towards hers as his left hand dropped to her shoulder and their cheeks touched, sending sparks of electricity arcing through her to make her body come alive, together with the snarl in his words that made her believe he meant every last one. “My jealousy would be so vast and dark that this entire realm would feel it. I would shake this planet to its core with my rage if another male so much as looked at you… because you aremine, Persephone.”

She gasped as she trembled, as his words shook her to her core, their dark promise rousing her feelings and making her burn for him. She couldn’t stop herself from leaning into him, bringing their cheeks into firmer contact, swept up in the moment and the heat of his body close to hers. The ache he always made her feel grew stronger, magnified by his scent and his power as it wrapped around her, and the feel of his hands on her and his breath on her neck.

Need blazed through her, burning up her blood.

A need that felt as desperate and wild as Hades looked as he drew back.

He gazed down at her, hunger lighting his now-blue eyes, that possessive look in them sending a hot shiver rolling down her spine and making her bold and reckless, because no male in this world had ever looked at her like that.

As if they loved her.

All she needed to do was tiptoe and he would kiss her.

He would take the invitation she offered.

Persephone rocked forwards on her toes.

And snapped back onto her heels as he spoke.

“I have seen you looking at the orchard.” His tone was soft, laced with hope that echoed in his eyes as he awkwardly cleared his throat. “Perhaps you would like to see it? Would it make you feel better?”

The moment slipped through her fingers, and in the wake of it shock that she had been on the verge of taking matters into her own hands and kissing him instead of waiting for him to kiss her coursed through her, and she was sure he had seen it as her cheeks flushed and he blinked at her, surprise flashing in his eyes.

“I would like that.” She struggled to hold his gaze, willing him not to say anything or call her on the fact she had wanted to kiss him. She tried to smile but it wobbled and died, and she shrugged stiffly. “I am surprised you are allowing it. I thought this room was my home now and I was not allowed outside it.”

She meant to tease him, but his handsome face turned deadly serious again.

“This entire realm is your home if you wish it, but only once you say you are mine.” He held his hand out to her, his sharp talons not scaring her, and held her gaze. “Until that day, I am afraid you will have to make do with me as your escort… and even then, I am not sure I would be able to let you stray beyond my sight.”

She stared at his hand, his words ringing in her mind, fuelling her hope and her courage. He had touched her many times, and she had touched him, but taking his hand seemed so intimate, even when his skin was covered by his gauntlets.

She raised her hand and hesitated, drawing it back to her an inch before curiosity won against all her doubts and fears, the thought of seeing more of his realm, and of him, driving it to its victory.

Persephone placed her hand into his.

And gasped as darkness engulfed her.

Chapter 18

Hades reluctantly set Persephone away from him, forcing himself to release her as they landed close to the orchard. It was hard to convince himself to do that. The possessive side of his blood snarled at him to keep hold of her and keep her pressed close to him, and find an excuse to not let her go. It wasn’t only the protectiveness that had ignited in him that had him desperate to remain close to her. Rage simmered in his veins still, a replay of how he had found Nyx looming over her and the crimson that had painted Persephone’s lower lip stoking it and keeping it at a constant burn. The darkness swirled at the edges of his mind, stalking and waiting to pounce. He wanted to keep it at bay, and being near Persephone would help him battle it and hold it back.

“I apologise for Nyx’s behaviour,” Hades growled, and Persephone turned to look at him. She glided back to him, her nearness quietening the darkness. It purred at him though, murmuring tempting words about finding Nyx and hurting her more, ensuring she would never dare strike his queen again. “I apologise for not reaching you in time to stop her.”

A small frown creased Persephone’s brow. “There is no need to apologise.”

“There is every need.” He frowned right back at her, unable to understand how she could be so calm and could forgive him so easily. “Nyx will be punished.”

Persephone shook her head now, her expression shifting towards surprise laced with a sort of anxiousness. “Do not. It is not necessary… and besides… I was the one who started it.”

True. But Nyx had been the one to end it, and incite his rage. His gaze lowered to Persephone’s mouth and his brow furrowed. He reached for her and surprise claimed him too when she didn’t move away. She didn’t even withdraw when he gently stroked his thumb over her lower lip, inspecting the cut on it. It was shallow. He pressed his knuckles to the side of her jaw and tilted her head, raising her cheek towards his gaze. The bruise was hardly noticeable.

Nyx had held back.

The goddess of night must have been aware that Persephone was weak from refusing to eat and had tempered her strength when she had lashed out at his little queen.

“She would have done well to hold herself back entirely and not strike my goddess,” Hades snarled in the language of the Underworld, his mood taking a darker turn as he stared at the bruise on Persephone’s fair skin.

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